Stiffening Device for Apparel

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, the present invention contemplates a stiffening device to prevent a trouser leg from becoming entangled between the foot and a shoe, particularly and open-back shoe, of a wearer. Accordingly, the device includes a stiffening device having a central stiffening member arranged between two opposing layers, one layer having an exterior face having an adhesive. One method of use includes locating an interior portion of a trouser leg, preferably near the hem-line, where stiffening is desired and arranging the device vertically starting at the hem-line at a rear portion of the interior portion of the trouser leg. Finally, adhering the device to the interior portion of the trouser leg using an adhesive provided on the device.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application claims benefit under 35 USC Section 119(e) ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/908,048 filed on 26 Mar.2007. The present application is based on and claims priority from thisapplication, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to clothing apparel and particularly a legstiffening device that is particularly suited to attach to existingpant, trouser, or slack legs to enhance wear particularly when wearingan open-back shoe.

2. Description of the Prior art and Background of the Invention

A well-understood technique to appear taller and thinner includes usinga shoe with a heel placing the wearer's foot at an angle so the heel ofthe foot is substantially higher than the ball, wearing a trouser thathas a leg length that is longer than the wearer's inseam, and furtherallowing that trouser-leg to carry over the shoe in an unbroken line.This presents the appearance that the wearer has a relatively long andlean leg, which adds visual stature to the wearer and boosts their selfconfidence. However, in so doing, the extended trouser leg can becomeentangled between the shoe and the wearer's foot, particularly when thewearer is sporting open-back shoes. This presents an unsightly gaff anddetracts from the visual affect the wearer was attempting, resulting inembarrassing situations or serving as an impediment to mobility.

Thus, there is a need for a device that can be integrated into slacks,trousers and the like that prevents this embarrassing tuck-under of thetrouser leg under the foot and atop the shoe. The device, further shouldadapt to be integrated during the manufacture of the garment. Also, andperhaps more importantly, the device should further adapt to beretrofitted to existing garments so that a wearer can quickly and easilyadapt their existing wardrobe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, a device designed andadapted for use on the trouser leg of conventional slacks consists of aself-adhesive panel adapted to couple to the cloth or fabric on theinside portion of a conventional trouser leg.

The device is secured vertically beginning at the hem-line to theinside, center back of the pant leg. The device can be selectivelyremoved prior to laundering.

The device enables a wearer to wear long, leg-lengthening slacks andjeans with the wearer's favorite open-back shoes with confidence. Nomore unsightly and uncomfortable bunching of fabric between the wearer'sheel and the shoe.

In one embodiment the present invention has dimensions of about 4 and ¾inches long by 1 and ½ inches wide with an adhesive-backed fabric strip.A semi-rigid and about four inch long by about 11/16 inches wide plasticstrip (also fabric covered) is affixed to the adhesive side of thefabric strip. The adhesive side is covered by a protective strip ofnon-stick paper.

After removing the adhesive protective strip from the back of thedevice—the wearer simply secures the device vertically to the insidebottom of the pant leg starting at the seam of the hem-line. When thedevice is applied to slacks and jeans, the semi rigid plastic stripkeeps the garment fabric straight at the heel area. This prevents thefabric from gathering and bunching between the wearer's heel and theopen back shoe.

Another possible adhesive back includes an iron-on transfer adhesive.

DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front-end view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an offset frontal view illustrating a possible layer-typeconstruction of one embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrated in onepossible environment of use consisting of a cross-section of a wearer'strouser leg and shoe.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the prior art problem and consists across-section of a wearer's trouser leg and shoe.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view along line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Possible embodiments will now be described with reference to thedrawings and those skilled in the art will understand that alternativeconfigurations and combinations of components may be substituted withoutsubtracting from the invention. Also, in some figures certain componentsare omitted to more clearly illustrate the invention.

The present invention, illustrated by exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 1,2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 overcomes the problems and limitations known in theprior art. One particular problem of the prior art, illustrated in FIG.5 for example, occurs when conventional jeans, trousers T, or otherslacks are worn with an open-back shoe S, particularly when that shoe isalso a high-heel variety; however, this problems occurs equally when theshoe is a flat bottomed sandal, also. The problem with conventionaljeans, trousers and the like is that the lower portion of the pant legT, near the hem-line, becomes caught under the foot F and atop the shoeS when walking or during otherwise normal use of the shoe.

The accompanying figures illustrate a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. For convenience, the corners of the stiffening deviceare shown as square. However, rounded or angled corners work equallywell and should be considered as part of the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

The present invention readily adapts for use with existing conventionaljeans, trousers, and the like and remedies this prior art problem. Thedevice 10 of the present invention stiffens the lower leg portion of thejeans or trousers and simply adheres to the inside portion of the rearof the trouser leg near the hem-line and arranges itself verticallytherefrom. In one embodiment, as FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 6 illustrate, thepresent invention comprises a stiffening device 10 for a garmentconsisting of a stiffening member 12 positioned between two opposinglayers, a base layer 16 and cover layer 12. The overall dimensions ofthe opposing base and cover layers are approximately the same for lengthand width and are oversized in relation to the length and width of thestiffening member 12. Either the base layer or the cover layer or both,on a portion of its respective interior face includes an adhesiveelement, such as a pressure adhesive that couples the two opposinglayers together and sandwiches the member 12 in between the two layers12 and 16. In other embodiments the pressure adhesive could easily bereplaced by a heat-transfer adhesive or, alternatively, could bemechanically coupled together by sewing or stitching the two opposinglayers together.

In addition, an exterior face of the base layer 16 includes an adhesive18 protected by a release liner (not shown in the figures). The adhesive18 enables a wearer of a garment to selectively locate the appropriateposition on the garment and, using an iron for a heat transfer adhesiveor pressure for a pressure adhesive, simply place and stick or couplethe device 10 to the trouser leg.

For example, FIG. 4 shows an environment of use where the device 10according to one embodiment of the present invention couples to theinside back lower trouser leg T of the wearing. This affords the garmentwith additional rigidity to hang freely and not become entangled underthe foot F and atop the shoe S of the wearer.

In another embodiment, the present invention consists of a stiffeningdevice for a garment. The device 10 includes a centrally arranged andpositioned a stiffening member 12, which positions or is disposed orarranged between two opposing layers consisting of a base layer 16 and acover layer 14.

In yet another embodiment, the device 10 further includes an adhesiveelement 18 coupled to an exterior face of the base layer to facilitatecoupling of the device to the garment.

In another embodiment, the device 10 also includes a means for couplingthe base layer 16 to the cover layer 14, this means comprises aninternal adhesive layer arranged on an interior face of either the baselayer, the cover layer or both. Alternatively, a mechanical couplingmeans including sewing or stitching will work equally well.

One method of using the present invention includes: providing astiffening device 10 having a central stiffening member arranged betweentwo opposing layers, one layer having an exterior face having anadhesive; locating an interior portion of the garment where stiffeningis desired; adhering the device to the garment.

Additionally, a second method includes using a stiffening device 10 toprevent a trouser leg from becoming entangled between the foot and ashoe, particularly and open-back shoe, of a wearer, the methodcomprises: providing a stiffening device having a central stiffeningmember arranged between two opposing layers, one layer having anexterior face having an adhesive; locating an interior portion of thetrouser leg, preferably near the hem line, where stiffening is desired;arranging the device vertically starting at the hem-line at a rearportion of the interior portion of the trouser leg; adhering the deviceto the interior portion of the trouser leg.

In another method according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, a stiffening device is incorporated into a garment, such as atrouser leg, during the manufacturing process of the garment. As such,the stiffening member is coupled to the lower portion of a trouser legnear the hem-line. The stiffening member is be adhered using any numberof garment adhesives generally understood in this art, or mechanicallyfastened using sewing, rivets, hook-and-loop fastener or other knownmeans.

In one preferred embodiment, it is desired that the stiffening member beremovable from the garment, as such, the stiffening member includes atleast one layer that facilitates attaching or coupling the stiffeningmember to the interior portion of the garment.

In another preferred embodiment, the stiffening device of the presentinvention adapts to retrofit existing garments and can easily beinstalled by the consumer, distributor, or manufacturer.

In another preferred embodiment, the stiffening device is releasablycoupled to a garment. In yet another preferred embodiment, thestiffening device permanently couples to, or is integral to the garment.

In another contemplated preferred embodiment the stiffening devicearranges horizontally near the distal end of a trouser leg.

One possible material for both the base layer and the cover layerincludes nylon, such as the nylon material commonly used as a patchfabric for many apparel items and recreational items such as tents,beach-balls and the like. As commonly used, such patches include eithera pressure-sensitive adhesive or a heat sensitive adhesive designed foran iron transfer. One possible cover and base layer material includes anylon patch available from Prym Consumer USA Inc., item number 55206Aavailable at www.dritz.com. A possible material for the stiffeningmember includes a heavy-duty template plastic as is commonly used in thehobby or recreational sewing or quilting arts such as item number 3115sold by Dritz Quilting and available from Prym Consumer USA Inc.

Although the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes in form and detail may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A stiffening device for a garment, the device comprising: astiffening member arranged between two opposing layers consisting of abase layer and a cover layer.
 2. The device of claim 1 furthercomprising an adhesive element coupled to an exterior face of the baselayer.
 3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a means for couplingthe base layer to the cover layer.
 4. The device of claim 3 furthercomprising a means for coupling the stiffening member to either thecover layer, the base layer, or both.
 5. A stiffening device for theinside portion of a clothing garment, specifically a trouser leg, thedevice comprising: a stiffening member arranged between two opposinglayers comprising a base layer and a cover layer; a coupling means forattaching an interior portion of the base layer to a facing andoppositely disposed interior face of the cover layer; and an adhesivelayer coupled to an exterior portion of the base layer, the adhesivelayer adapted to releasable couple to the trouser leg.
 6. The device ofclaim 5 wherein the coupling means comprises any combination of apressure adhesive, a self-adhesive, a heat-activated adhesive, or threadmechanically interwoven between the base layer and the cover layer.
 7. Amethod of incorporating a stiffening device for a garment with a pair oftrousers, the method comprising: providing a stiffening device having astiffening member; providing a trouser leg having a distal end and a hemline; locating an interior portion of the garment where stiffening isdesired; and coupling the stiffening device adjacent to the distal end.8. The method of claim 7 further comprising: providing two opposinglayers; locating the stiffening device between the two opposing layerswherein one layer comprises the distal end of the trouser leg; locatinga position on the distal end of the trouser leg, preferably near a hemline, where stiffening is desired; arranging the stiffening devicevertically starting at the hem-line at a rear portion of the interiorportion of the trouser leg; and coupling the device to the interiorportion of the trouser leg.
 9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:providing two opposing layers; locating the stiffening device betweenthe two opposing layers; locating a position on the distal end of thetrouser leg, preferably near a hem line, where stiffening is desired;arranging the stiffening device vertically starting at the hem-line at arear portion of the interior portion of the trouser leg; and couplingthe device to the interior portion of the trouser leg.